2 firefighters taken to hospital after battling fire at shophouse near Outram Park MRT Station

SINGAPORE — Two firefighters were taken to Singapore General Hospital on Tuesday (June 15) after battling a blaze at a shophouse in the Chinatown area. A ceiling fell onto one of them during the operation while the other suffered heat exhaustion.

In a Facebook post, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that it was alerted to the fire at 11.15am on Tuesday at the shophouse located at 31 Teo Hong Road, off New Bridge Road, near Outram Park MRT Station.

Upon SCDF’s arrival at the scene, thick smoke was coming from the shophouse. Firefighters noted that the occupants from the shophouse had already self-evacuated before its arrival.

About 20 other occupants from the neighbouring unit were evacuated by SCDF as a precautionary measure.

Firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus then proceeded into the smoke-filled shophouse.

Segments of the ceiling fell onto two career firefighters while they were conducting the firefighting operations on the third floor of the shophouse.

The two — who were in full personal protective equipment — were immediately evacuated and assessed by an SCDF paramedic.

“One of the firefighters was conscious when conveyed to Singapore General Hospital while the other firefighter was treated at the site for minor scratches.

“Another firefighter, a full-time national serviceman, experienced heat exhaustion and was conveyed to Singapore General Hospital,” SCDF said.

It added that the fire at the ceiling on the third floor and attic of the shophouse was extinguished with three water jets at about 1.15pm. During the operation, a combined platform ladder was also used to conduct aerial firefighting.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

In an update at about 10pm, SCDF said that the NSF firefighter has been discharged and the career officer was warded overnight for observation at the hospital. 

It thanked the public and online users for their support and words of encouragement for the officers involved in the firefighting operation.

“Your kind words are uplifting and keep their spirits high,” it said.